On the evolution of language and the "W" word

[ancianita]

185. One could make the case that sexist and racist words "internalize" rather than "evolve."

That epithets are internalized and made a joke. That historically sexist words evolve into other contexts to include men might just show the gradual internalizing of men's language by women who accommodate the language of historically male spheres, language which they then adapt change to apply to other contexts. So do men. As when men call each other 'cunts,' 'bitches' or 'motherfuckers.'

In the case of the historically pejorative "nigger," there's no evolving. Instead, any "acceptable" use of the word "nigger" as non-pejorative is claimed by black people alone (as in "my niggaz", or "nigga, check yo'self&quot , the enforced rule being that no white person could or should use it in any context whatsoever, (Evah evah? Evah evah.) since it is so racially loaded with dog whistle double meaning. Its use by anyone in any context is too soon.

In that case, the pejorative is 'internalized' and changed solely on black people's terms and timeline. Is what black people assert censorship? If it is, then 1st Amendment anti-censorship apologists need not worry about using it here. And yet we don't. Because respect.

As a Bernie Sanders supporter and feminist, I claim that it's too soon to use "whore" when referencing female candidates in any context for the same reason. Until a vast majority of women don't see "whore" as sexist dog whistle across contexts, it's too soon. Because respect.

I've made this case to 1st Amendment anti-censorship apologists here and have been called childish.

So the if the issue here is freedom of speech along with "evolution" of historical pejoratives, along with time spent sorting out poster use and intent of historical pejoratives, we'll see how that plays out. Because in political contexts, word use will be in play for the playaz and the played.